A lien is a claim for payment that can affect the property or its title. A payoff is the current amount and instructions a creditor or tax office gives to satisfy that claim. The title company checks recorded property claims for the sale; the lender or creditor and the county tax office provide current payoff information for their accounts.
If you have them, bring the property address, parcel number, latest tax bill or notice, lender payoff statement, lien or court paper, and deed information. A partial record is enough to start the conversation. For Cascade County property-tax information, see the county links below. For a recorded deed or other real-estate document, contact the County Clerk & Recorder.
A delinquent property-tax matter and a mortgage foreclosure are not the same process. Use the current tax notice and county tax-account information for a tax question. For a mortgage-foreclosure notice, check with the lender and the court or office named on the notice; you can also read our Great Falls foreclosure information.